[IP] more on Really bothers me djf Be Very Afraid : Nearly half ofAmericans wou ld restrictMuslimAmericans Civil Rights
Sounds better. btw In most cases i have noideawhata persons religion is. Most
Moslems are as intergrated in US society as Jews and irish
djf.
_______________ Forward Header _______________
Subject: Re: [IP] Really bothers me djf Be Very Afraid: Nearly half
ofAmericans wou ld restrictMuslimAmericans Civil Rights
Author: "Robert C. Atkinson" <rca53@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 18th December 2004 8:56:08 pm
Dave:
In the 1940s, Americans of German extraction were a significant portion
of the population and "mainstream" in looks, religion, language, and
well integrated in the greater eonomic and social community. Americans
of Japanese extraction weren't as fortunate and their Constitutional
rights were trampled after Pearl Harbor. The poll you circulated seems
to indicate that Muslim Americans are on the verge of being treated like
Japanese Americans, not German Americans. If (when?) Islamists unleash
a WMD in the United States, don't you think that there is a real danger
that American Muslims will be treated like Japanese Americans were...or
worse? The easiest way for terrorists to destroy Western liberal
democracies is to induce those democracies to commit cultural suicide.
A WMD attack would be awful but could not, itself, have a catastrophic
impact on the country as a whole. Only our reactions could do that.
Isn't that the lesson of 9/11? How do we avoid cultural suicide in a
post-attack panic? Do you think the existing "checks and
balances"--social and political-- will be strong enough to resist
changes some fundamental rights?
Bob
David Farber wrote:
>This note bothers me so much that I see red
>
>We survived more dangerous situations with out modifying what makes the US
>worthwhile. Hitler was much more dangerous yet we did not register german
>extraction. Then again Hitler made the Jews register. djf
>
>
>Author: "Robert C. Atkinson" <rca53@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Date: 18th December 2004 4:16:15 pm
>
>Dave:
>
>This is certainly serious, difficult and not surprising.
>
>Hopefully, things like this poll will encourage Muslims in America (and
>in Europe too, it seems) to do more to reassure their fellow countrymen
>that such restrictions won't be necessary. Mr Bray's proposal to
>"continue to interface" probably won't be enough though.
>
>Like it or not, the burden is on the Muslim community to take the
>initiative to convince the vast majority of Americans (and now
>Europeans) that Muslims can be "trusted." Otherwise, a poll a year from
>now will probably show that over 50 percent favor restrictions and if
>(when?) there is another Islamist terrorist attack within the US, the
>number will instantly go into the 80+% range. Then what? Fast
>Constitutional amendments, probably, and Draconian ones, possibly.
>
>To protect core civil liberties from being swept away in a post-attack
>panic, civil liberterians should start thinking the unthinkable: what
>sort of Bill of Rights will best protect life, liberty and pursuit of
>hapiness in an era of terrorism? I doubt the populace--and many
>politicians--will have the patience for nuanced and thoughtful debate
>after a WMD kills a few hundred thousand civilians. This is the time for
>the nuanced and thoughtful debate.
>
>Bob
>
>David Farber wrote:
>
>
>
>>http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=341659
>>
>>
>>[ABC News]In U.S., 44 Percent Say0 Restrict MuslimsPoll: Nearly Half of All
>>Americans Support Restricting Rights of Muslim Americans
>>[The Associated Press]
>>ITHACA, N.Y. Dec 17, 2004 — Nearly half of all Americans believe the U.S.
>>government should restrict the civil liberties of Muslim Americans, according
>>to a nationwide poll.
>>The survey conducted by Cornell University also found that Republicans and
>>people who described themselves as highly religious were more apt to support
>>curtailing Muslims' civil liberties than Democrats or people who are less
>>religious.
>>Researchers also found that respondents who paid more attention to television
>>news were more likely to fear terrorist attacks and support limiting the
>>rights of Muslim Americans.
>>"It's sad news. It's disturbing news. But it's not unpredictable," said Mahdi
>>Bray, executive director of the Muslim American Society. "The nation is at
>>war, even if it's not a traditional war. We just have to remain vigilant and
>>continue to int:er.face."
>>
>>The survey found 44 percent favored at least some restrictions on the civil
>>liberties of Muslim Americans. Forty-eight percent said liberties should not
>>be restricted in any way.
>>The survey showed that 27 percent of respondents supported requiring all
>>Muslim Americans to register where they lived with the federal government.
>>Twenty-two percent favored racial profiling to identify potential terrorist
>>threats. And 29 percent thought undercover agents should infiltrate Muslim
>>civic and volunteer organizations to keep tabs on their activities and
>>fund-raising.
>>Cornell student researchers questioned 715 people in the nationwide telephone
>>poll conducted this fall. The margin of error was 3.6 percentage points.
>>James Shanahan, an associate professor of communications who helped organize
>>the survey, said the results indicate "the need for continued dialogue about
>>issues of civil liberties" in a time of war.
>>While researchers said they were not surprised by the overall level of
>>support for curtailing civil liberties, they were startled by the correlation
>>with religion and exposure to television news.
>>"We need to explore why these two very important channels of discourse may
>>nurture fear rather than understanding," Shanahan said.
>>According to the survey, 37 percent believe a terrorist attack in the United
>>States is still likely within the next 12 months. In a similar poll conducted
>>by Cornell in November 2002, that number stood at 90 percen.t.
>>.
>>..
>>
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